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How conscience made Shaq turn down a $40 million deal
Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal reveals how his conscience made him pass up a $40 million deal with Reebok — then go on to sell over 400 million pairs of affordable sneakers in Walmart.
Shaq’s reason to turn down $40 million Reebok deal
Nearly as famous for his endorsement deals as he is for basketball, NBA living legend Shaquille O’Neal revealed recently that his smartest business move was his decision to walk away from a $40 million deal with Reebok — and that he owes it all to a stranger who cursed him out while leaving the arena.
![Without specifying the year or where he was playing at the time, O’Neal said he was leaving an arena when a woman called him a ‘motherf***er’ for charging children so much for his shoes.](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpvChEuw.jpeg)
Why Shaq turned down $40 million and started an affordable sneaker brand
While appearing as the guest on the Full Send podcast (26 August 2021), legendary NBA player Shaquille O’Neal revealed how he walked away from a massive $40 million dollar deal with Rebook.
On the program he recalled a moment when he was confronted by a woman who scolded him for selling his signature Rebook shoes at a price that many of his younger fans could not afford.
“That day, I cut ties with Reebok,” he said of forgoing a $40 million deal he had with the brand following a moment of clarity. “I said keep the money… this ain’t right. I’ll still wear the shoes I do during the season, but I’ll be looking to do my own thing,” he said.
“So, I started the Shaq brand. I went to my favorite store, Walmart, and we did a deal. I was in all stores and my price point for the shoes was $29-$19 and since then we sold over 400 million pairs.”
He added that he brought on designers from Reebok to join him in the new Walmart venture. “It’s not kids that don’t want to wear $20 shoes, they don’t want to wear shoes that look like they cost $20.”
Source: Yahoo!Life
![Former NBA star, Shaquille O’Neal, knows a lot about basketball, but he's also showing the world that he knows a thing or two about athletic footwear. The seven-foot center made nearly $300 million over 19 NBA seasons, but says he’s earned more money in business since retiring in 2011.](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpCJZHSB.jpeg)
![“I went to my favorite store, Walmart, and we did a deal,” he said. “I was in all stores and my price point for the shoes was $29-$19 and since then we sold over 400 million pairs. It’s not kids that don’t want to wear $20 shoes, they don’t want to wear shoes that look like they cost $20.”](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpKmd3i1.jpeg)
![On the Walmart website, his Shaq sneakers are sold for as low as $12.70, and his Reebok Shaq Attaq line is listed at $67.99.](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phptxMNja.jpeg)
![Shaq once posted on his Facebook page:](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpjPRfs3.jpeg)